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UNIV - Laboratory Specialist I - Department of Medicine: Division of Cardiology

Charleston, South Carolina

UNIV - Laboratory Specialist I - Department of Medicine: Division of Cardiology

  • R-0000063450
  • Charleston, South Carolina
  • Laboratory
  • Clinical & Research Support Services
  • Full Time
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Job Description Summary

The laboratory of Dr. Federica del Monte at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is seeking a highly motivated individual to join an interdisciplinary research program focused on the heart-brain axis, protein misfolding, and proteotoxicity in neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.

The successful candidate will have a strong analytical background, experience with tissue/cell processing and basic molecular assays, and a genuine interest in protein homeostasis, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms. The candidate will assist the Principal Investigator and the post-doctoral fellow. The candidate should be capable of conduct independent molecular biology experiments, managing a biological sample biorepository, and coordinating lab operations across interdisciplinary lines.

Entity

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC - Univ)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Research Grant

Cost Center

CC000966 COM DOM CARD General CC

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Grade

University-GEN06


Pay Range

37,200.00 - 48,300.00 - 59,500.000

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

Job Duties:

  • 30% – Assist laboratory staff with routine experimental procedures, including basic molecular and biochemical biology (e.g., Western blotting, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/genotyping, qPCR), immunocytochemistry/immunohistochemistry (ICC/IHC), and high-resolution imaging of tissue structures and protein aggregates.

  • 30% – Work with the PI and laboratory team to manage the lab’s specialized tissue and fluid biorepository. Streamline ordering, receiving, and tracking of specialized materials. Manage chemical and reagent inventory, maintain up‑to‑date safety data, and coordinate hazardous waste pick‑ups.

  • 15% – Define and maintain accurate, up‑to‑date records of laboratory procedures, experimental protocols, equipment logs, and metadata in digital and/or hand‑written form. Track safety training and certification records for lab members, proactively contacting institutional safety offices as needed.

  • 10% – Maintain, process, and characterize biological specimens (including human tissue samples, biobanked fluids, and murine tissues). Assist with maintaining mouse colonies relevant to Alzheimer's genetics and cardiac phenotypes.

  • 10% –Respond to occasional laboratory emergencies (e.g., -80°C freezer or liquid nitrogen malfunctions) in a timely manner, including during off‑hours when needed.

  • 5% – Perform additional duties as requested by the PI to support ongoing translational heart failure and tau-targeting immunotherapy projects, as well as general lab operations.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Abilities:

  • Ability to work rotating shifts as required.

  • Ability to work overtime as required.

  • Ability to learn and use new processes, analytical software, and laboratory equipment as required.

Additional Job Description

Minimum Requirements: A high school diploma and one year work experience in a clinical or research laboratory setting, in a health care setting or in a general maintenance or machine shop environment. A bachlor's degree in a related scientific discipline may be substituted for the required work experience.

Physical Requirements: (Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift) Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work in all cold temperature extremes, i.e. spot coolers. (Frequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to perform 'pinching' operations. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous) Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous) Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 30 lbs., unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift objects, up to 30 lbs., from floor level to height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lower objects, up to 30 lbs., from height of 72 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/pull objects, up to 50 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift and carry objects up to 30 lbs. a distance of five (5) floors and to outlying buildings. (Frequent) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to be qualified physically (by medical personnel) for respirator use, initially and annually. Ability to work alone in isolated areas, such as darkrooms. (Frequent)

Additional New Requirements: Ability to obtain and maintain a valid drivers license. Computer literacy. Ability to work rotating shifts as required. Ability to work overtime as required. Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

Medical University of South Carolina participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

MUSC Children's Health

MUSC Children’s Health is part of South Carolina's most comprehensive academic health care system, offering career options at our nationally ranked pediatric hospital, ambulatory surgical and specialty care center, children’s research institute and clinics and patient care sites. We provide the broadest range of advanced care devoted exclusively to the well-being of children.

Our nationally ranked pediatric hospital is located in downtown Charleston, while our primary, urgent, and specialty care clinics can be found throughout the Tri-County area. We proudly care for patients across South Carolina, the southeast region and beyond.

 

MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital

MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital (SJCH) is the tertiary hub of MUSC Children’s Health and one of the Southeast's leading children's hospitals. Opened in February 2020 as a state-of-the-art replacement for the MUSC Children's Hospital on Ashley Avenue, the 250-bed facility was purpose-built to deliver the most advanced, family-centered pediatric care available — under one roof and across the entire state.

 

MUSC SJCH offers specialized care in more than 27 pediatric subspecialties, supported by a robust telehealth network that extends the hospital's reach to families in every corner of South Carolina. Whether a child requires routine specialty follow-up or the most complex interventional care, MUSC SJCH serves as the definitive resource for South Carolina's children and their families. This commitment to statewide access extends beyond the walls of a single facility: MUSC SJCH is an active and founding participant in the South Carolina Children's Hospital Collaborative (SCCHC), a partnership among South Carolina's children's hospitals dedicated to ensuring that every child in the state — regardless of geography or circumstance — receives consistent, high-quality pediatric care.

 

Through the Collaborative, MUSC SJCH works alongside partner institutions to align clinical standards, share expertise, and jointly deliver specialized services that no single hospital could sustain alone. Among the statewide programs coordinated through the SCCHC are:

  • Child Abuse Pediatrics, providing a coordinated, trauma-informed response to suspected abuse and neglect, with specially trained child abuse pediatricians and multidisciplinary teams working collaboratively with partner hospitals, child advocacy centers, and child protective services agencies across the state
  • Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation, extending access to specialized rehabilitative care for children recovering from serious illness, injury, or surgery — ensuring that families throughout South Carolina can access these services closer to home
  • Additional collaborative service lines that reflect a shared commitment to closing gaps in pediatric care access statewide

 

This collaborative model reflects MUSC SJCH's belief that advancing children's health in South Carolina is a shared responsibility — and that partnership is the path to better outcomes for all of the state's children.

MUSC SJCH is also home to an unmatched collection of programs and designations that exist nowhere else in the state:

  • South Carolina's only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center and Emergency Department, providing the highest level of readiness and expertise for children experiencing life-threatening injuries or emergencies
  • South Carolina's only pediatric burn center, delivering specialized, multidisciplinary care for children with serious burn injuries
  • South Carolina's only pediatric solid-organ and bone marrow transplant programs, offering children with organ failure and hematologic conditions access to life-saving therapies without leaving the state
  • The largest Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in South Carolina, equipped and staffed to care for the most critically ill and premature newborns
  • A Level 1 Children's Surgery Center, verified by the American College of Surgeons Children's Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program — a distinction that reflects the hospital's commitment to the highest standards of surgical safety and outcomes
  • An Advanced Fetal Care Center, bringing together maternal-fetal medicine specialists and pediatric subspecialists to evaluate and plan care for pregnancies complicated by complex fetal diagnoses

 

MUSC Children's Health Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Surgery Program is nationally recognized as one of the finest pediatric cardiac programs in the United States, ranked #4 in the country by U.S. News & World Report's Best Children's Hospitals 2025–2026. The program is built on a nationally unique model: a fully integrated, statewide collaboration of pediatric heart surgeons and cardiologists who work together across multiple sites to ensure that children throughout South Carolina have access to world-class cardiac care regardless of where they live. 

Pearl Tourville Women's Pavilion

Housed within MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, the Pearl Tourville Women's Pavilion (PTWP) represents a truly integrated approach to maternal and newborn care. By co-locating obstetrical services alongside the full spectrum of pediatric subspecialty expertise, the Pavilion is uniquely positioned to optimize safety and improve outcomes for both routine and high-risk pregnancies.

The Advanced Fetal Care Center, embedded within the Pavilion, is a specialized program dedicated to families expecting babies diagnosed with complex congenital conditions or medical challenges before birth. Board-certified maternal-fetal medicine providers work in close collaboration with a large, multidisciplinary team of pediatric specialists — including surgeons, cardiologists, neurologists, and neonatologists — to develop individualized care plans that begin before delivery and carry seamlessly through birth and beyond.

The Pearl Tourville Women's Pavilion is among only a small number of women's facilities in the nation to offer couplet-care rooms, an innovative model that allows mothers and newborns — including those requiring intensive-level monitoring — to recover together in the same room. This approach keeps families united during a critical time, supports bonding and breastfeeding, and reflects MUSC's deep commitment to patient- and family-centered care.

 MUSC Women's Health - A Statewide Network 

MUSC's commitment to women's health extends far beyond the walls of the Pearl Tourville Women's Pavilion in Charleston. Through MUSC Health's regional divisions, women across South Carolina have access to a comprehensive continuum of obstetrical and gynecological services delivered close to home — supported by the clinical expertise, safety standards, and subspecialty resources of one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.

Community-based obstetrical and gynecological care is available across four MUSC Health divisions. Across all four divisions, community OB and gynecology practices are integrated into the larger MUSC Health system, allowing for seamless referrals and care coordination when patients require higher levels of care — including maternal-fetal medicine consultation, access to the Advanced Fetal Care Center, or delivery at a facility with advanced neonatal support. This hub-and-spoke model ensures that women throughout South Carolina benefit from consistent, evidence-based care regardless of where they live, while maintaining access to the full resources of MUSC Health when complexity demands it.

This statewide women's health network reflects MUSC's enduring mission: to improve the health and well-being of all South Carolinians — from the earliest moments of life onward.

Meet Our Children's & Women's Care Team

Hear from our care team members about why they love working at MUSC Children's Health.